IT’S TIME TO RECOGNISE THE GENIUS OF HERCULES’ MUSES
THE NEWS THAT Hercules is the latest Disney animation to get the live-action treatment brings with it the possibility of reintroducing a group of pioneering characters back to the big screen: the Muses.
Hercules already has a lot going for it with its colourful animation, smart humour, and a superb co-lead in Susan Egan’s Meg. But even now, 20 years after the classic 1997 film was released, the vocals of these five goddesses of the arts can’t help but inspire a bout of toe-tapping, head-bopping joy.
Calliope, Clio, Melpomene, Terpsichore and Thalia — voiced by singers Lillias White, Vanéese Y. Thomas, Cheryl Freeman, Lachanze and Roz Ryan — were Disney’s first depiction of Black female characters in a feature film. They’re just as funny, positive and striking as their real-life counterparts. In doing so, their work is a celebration of Black culture that was quietly significant in the ’90s, and the magnitude of their achievement has only become more impressive in subsequent years.
While each Muse is pleasingly distinct, the sweet music they create together is something truly special. Catchy, gospel-infused tracks like ‘Zero To Hero’ and
‘A Star Is Born’ ensure that the Hercules soundtrack can stand toe-to-toe with any album in Disney’s impressive catalogue.
Their songs’ lyrics lend to the group’s light and joyful dynamic: “And then along came Zeus/he hurled his thunderbolt/he zapped/ Locked those suckers in a vault.” The Supremes-esque ensemble were also backed on occasion by all-black session singers, plus Luther Vandross himself, who wanted to be a part of this historical milestone.
But the Muses don’t just provide the bangers. They also serve as the film’s narrators. Exposition can be tricky to make fun in animated projects — Hercules takes aim at Charlton Heston’s more traditional and highbrow narrative style in its opening seconds — but the Muses quickly makes it something to look forward to. Their exuberant brand of elucidation is the perfect way to bridge the ancient with the modern, educating the audience on Greek myths with clever lyrics and soulful melodies.
Here’s hoping that this remake, which comes courtesy of Guy Ritchie, does result in the Muses returning once more in all their glory. Failure to do so would be a colossal mistake. And that’s the gospel truth.